DriverHeaven: Lite-On SOHW-812S Review

Introduction:

Lite-On SOHW-812S

In this review I’m going to take a look at Lite-On’s SOHW-812S DVD±RW drive, which features DVD Plus (+) and Minus (-) burning of DVD Recordable discs at 8x and DVD Rewritable discs at 4x.
For comparison; I will be testing the SHOW-812S against NEC’s ND-1100A DVD+RW drive. Using several programs including: Nero Burning ROM and Easy CD-DA Extractor.

Before I get to the review, I would like to provide some background on Lite-On and DVD technology.

Company

Lite-On I.T. branched off from Lite-On Group in 1999 in a highly successful attempt to create a division to focus solely on the manufacturing of optical storage devices. Now, five-years later, Lite-On I.T. is the number-one CD-ROM drive manufacturer in Taiwan and the number-three CD-ROM drive manufacturer in the world.
Lite-On makes a wide-variety of optical storage devices, including DVD±RW and CD-RW drives, as well as combination drives. Although, probably most recognized for their CD burners, Lite-On is quickly becoming a contender for the DVD burner crown.
With the recent release of their 2.4x Double Layer DVD+R (DVD9) and 12x DVD+R burners, Lite-On seems more and more like the only logical choice when it comes to the investment of purchasing a DVD burner.

DVD Technology

After the first DVD drives were released based on the DVD Minus (-) format, it was found that the minus format wasn’t too compatible with set DVD players. Later, a new more compatible format was created: DVD Plus (+).
After this, the DVD industry split: half siding with the DVD Minus format and the other with DVD Plus. Although, both formats have their advantages and disadvantages, no single format was ever chosen as “mainstream”.

DVD Plus is the most compatible format, however, it is also the most expensive. Since DVD Plus is highly compatible with set DVD players it is mostly used for DVD Video.
DVD Minus is not the most compatible with set DVD players, it is, however, perfectly fine for data storage.

Because each format had their purposes, the consumer was now left with the need of drives capable of burning both DVD Plus and Minus discs. Companies like Sony and NEC answered the call, but dual format drives were very expensive, once again frustrating the consumer.

Until recently the prices of dual format drives was too expensive for some. Because of faster burning speeds and DVD Double Layer burners now coming into hand the cost of dual format drives is now relatively affordable. But, the future of the DVD holds new advancements and possible setbacks. With the new HD-DVD specification now being approved by The DVD Forum and Blu-Ray on its way, is now really the time to buy a DVD burner? if so, is the Lite-On SOHW-812S the right choice?

Next: Kit & Specs